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Ashoka's First Rock Edict at Girnar

Illustration courtesy of Yashwant K. Malaiya,
Professor, Computer Science Department,
Colorado State University

Ashoka's First Rock Edict at Girnar

Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi,
has caused this Dhamma edict to be written.
Here no living beings are to be slaughtered or offered in sacrifice.
Nor should festivals be held, for Beloved-of-the-Gods,
King Piyadasi, sees much to object to in such festivals,
although there are some festivals that
Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, does approve of.

Formerly, in the kitchen of Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi,
hundreds of thousands of animals
were killed every day to make curry.
But now with the writing of this Dhamma edict
only three creatures, two peacocks and a deer,
are killed, and the deer not always.
And in time, not even these three creatures will be killed.

Translation From the Brahmi from
The Edicts of King Ashoka An English rendering by Ven. S. Dhammika. See: Wheel 1386

 


 

References:

see: That the True Dhamma Might Last a Long Time: Readings Selected by King Asoka
Upatissa's (Sariputta's) Question
Ashoka's First Rock Edict at Girnar
wheel1386.htm


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